Annually at about this time, a slew of “buy this gear” stories appear, many of them clearly driven by something other than the fact that the products are useful.

Consider this one different.

Our family participates in pretty much every outdoor activity you can think of. Two members are teenage “ninjas with rock-hard abs” (that’s a direct quote from one of them). This summer we camped, both in the backcountry and out of the car, and we hiked, climbed, swam and slacklined. We rafted rivers and mountain biked (in races and for fun). Two of us are runners and two of us ride our bikes to work most days.

Last season we skied and snowshoed (although more of the latter), and we hope the snow is better this coming season so we can do more of the former. We also travel a lot; we visited places like Ecuador and Texas (multiple times), so we understand unforgiving weather on the road.

All of this is to say that we do stuff, and when we do, we want to haul things along that make sense. We regularly prune items from our efforts because a lot of them are just wasted weight and space.

Over the past year, though, we came across gear and gadgets that actually worked for us — sometimes because they made travel or outdoors activities easier or more fun, and sometimes because they were better versions of things we already had, and they were worth a reasonable expenditure.

Here’s some gear that’s going on our list of things to give as gifts this season for our fellow adventurers.

Lipault Plume Soft-Side Luggage

Why it’s good: We have so many pieces of luggage that we may soon need another dwelling to store it, and that’s the problem — luggage takes up a lot of space. Lipault makes a series of soft-side wheeled pieces — in duffle, carry-on and what they call “packing case” that’s essentially a full-size piece — with all the attractions of other well-made suitcases (lots of pockets and compartments, durability, easy-to-clean fabrics, sturdy wheels, hardy carrying handles in the right places, nicely stitched linings). They have the extra the bonus of being collapsible, so that the suitcase squeezes down to just a few inches wide when it’s empty.

When you’re packing, though, there’s a hard shelf liner that flips into the bottom to support everything, so that it works like a hard-side case as you roll it. The retractable handle is sturdy, and it comes in five colors.

Why it’s good: So you found that perfect bottle of wine in California that you’d really like to bring back to Colorado — except you can’t carry it on with you. Time for the VinniBag. It’s an inflatable pouch that snugs around any size bottle – although it’s optimal for 750 ml – to protect it from breaking or leaking, like a bottle pillow. You could also put it in a backpack and use it later as a pillow). The thick plastic is incredibly durable, but if it ever fails, the material is recyclable, and the company will take it back and make it into garden hoses.

Why it’s good: So many attempts to find a way to carry music while running and biking, so many fails. The armband-style Armpocket is my current favorite, partly because the largest size can hold more than just a phone, but also because it’s adaptable. My iPhone is protected by a bulky OtterBox, which fits in even the smallest Armpocket (the Aero i-10). All of the Armpockets have inner pockets for keys and credit cards, along with an interior strap to keep the phone from slipping around. The see-through shell is made from recycled plastic bottles, and it’s slick enough to easily manipulate the touch pad, even when you’re sweaty and moving. I turn my phone upside-down, though, when running, because the earbud adaptor fits more easily that way, and I think it’s easier to change tunes or answer the phone with my arm tilted up, rather than trying to read upside-down. The straps come in varying sizes for a snug fit, and the padding on the back of the band is nice so that it doesn’t hurt when it’s really tight. Eight colors.

Why it’s good: My oldest has been carrying her Mountainsmith daypack for 8 years now, and that means it lasted through the brutal high school years of hundred-pound chemistry-physics-calculus books. Now we’re enamored of the lumbar pack for travel, because it can be squished down into its own tiny pouch to tuck away into a suitcase, and then expanded into an 11.5-inch-square carry-all that can be used for hands-free hiking or shopping, or you can use the included, removable shoulder strap or hand straps. Many pockets for stashing stuff, and made of the usual durable Mountainsmith ripstop nylon. The company is based in Golden, by the way.

Why it’s good: Multi-day car-camping and rafting trips are so much easier come mealtimes when you have good systems for cooking and cleanup. GSI’s nesting set is wonderful — it has a frypan, strainer lid, 3-liter pot, 5-liter pot, pot gripper and cutting board, all of which are non-stick, hard-anodized aluminum, and sits in a welded stuff sack that keeps it all together while you travel and then doubles as a sink in camp. My favorite part is that two of the lids have strainer holes in them, so you can easily strain out pasta liquid and the gunk at the end of cleanup. Also love the detachable, folding grips. Sets come in two sizes: small for 2-3 people and large for 4 or more.

Why it’s good: Gear that serves multiple purposes will always be a big hit on the trail, and this super-light poncho that serves as a cover-up in the rain, a shelter or extra rainfly or a ground cloth gets bonus points. The Backpacker Cascade II Poncho Regular ($24.99) fits the bill if you’re looking for something that will cover just you and a daypack, but the Ultralte Extension is for the serious trips when it’s you and a big-frame backpack going the distance. This waterproof, hooded piece can be draped over your pack, has enough snaps to work it around tent poles or tree branches for a shelter, and the fabric feels sturdy. Rolls into a very small, 9.5-ounce bundle.

Why they’re good: Cocoon’s MummyLiners ($44.95) have long been a family favorite during those desert camping trips when it’s too hot too be inside a sleeping bag but you still want to have a little something covering you; they’re also great for adding a bit of insulation and keeping your sleeping bag from getting stinky. Using them led us to Cocoon’s pillows, which can be flattened nearly paper-thin and then line your backpack to take up no space; when you get to camp, blow up the inflatable pillow part and then cover it with the soft cover. The fast-drying Microfiber Towels are fabulous; if you have long hair, get the large or extra large, but a small or medium is fine for river baths or camp clean-up.

Kyle Wagner worked at The Denver Post from 2002-2014. She joined as the restaurant critic and food writer after nine years as restaurant critic for Westword. Her passions for mountain biking, hiking, snowboarding, skiing, river rafting, exploring the world — and anything that gets her out of the office — made transitioning into travel and fitness a perfect fit.